Sergio Henao takes lead in Tour of the Basque Country

Sergio Henao (Sky) won the third stage of the Tour of the Basque Country to move into the overall lead.

Henao put in a late attack from a reduced group of favourites to bridge up to escapees Carlos Betancur (Ag2r) and Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha). Henao initially came around the two breakaways, but fellow Colombian Betancur managed to keep in touch and then set up a slow-motion side-by-side sprint on the 21 per cent gradient.

Henao threw his bike forward, touching elbows with Betancur, much to the Ag2r man’s distress – but the result stood. Caruso came in for third.

Alberto Contado, whose Saxo-Tinokff squad had done a sizeable amount of work lower down on the climb, looked to be struggling in the finale but stayed in contact with a small group also containing Richie Porte (Sky) to finish seventh at 10 seconds.

Henao takes over the race lead, eight seconds ahead of Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and 10 second ahead of third-placed Porte.

Three stages in the WorldTour-level race remain, two hilly road stages and a final, decisive 24-kilometre time trial on Saturday (April 6) in Beasain.

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